Chapter 35

           Elizabethawokethenextmorningtothesamethoughtsandmeditationswhichhadatlengthclosedhereyes. Shecouldnotyetrecoverfromthesurpriseofwhathadhappened; itwasimpossibletothinkofanythingelse;and,totallyindisposedforemployment,sheresolved,soonafterbreakfast,toindulgeherselfinairandexercise. Shewasproceedingdirectlytoherfavouritewalk,whentherecollectionofMr.Darcy’ssometimescomingtherestoppedher,andinsteadofenteringthepark,sheturnedupthelane,whichledfartherfromtheturnpike-road. Theparkpalingwasstilltheboundaryononeside,andshesoonpassedoneofthegatesintotheground. 

           Afterwalkingtwoorthreetimesalongthatpartofthelane,shewastempted,bythepleasantnessofthemorning,tostopatthegatesandlookintothepark. ThefiveweekswhichshehadnowpassedinKenthadmadeagreatdifferenceinthecountry,andeverydaywasaddingtotheverdureoftheearlytrees. Shewasonthepointofcontinuingherwalk,whenshecaughtaglimpseofagentlemanwithinthesortofgrovewhichedgedthepark;hewasmovingthatway; and,fearfulofitsbeingMr.Darcy,shewasdirectlyretreating. Butthepersonwhoadvancedwasnownearenoughtoseeher,andsteppingforwardwitheagerness,pronouncedhername. Shehadturnedaway;butonhearingherselfcalled,thoughinavoicewhichprovedittobeMr.Darcy,shemovedagaintowardsthegate. Hehadbythattimereacheditalso,and,holdingoutaletter,whichsheinstinctivelytook,said,withalookofhaughtycomposure, "Ihavebeenwalkinginthegrovesometimeinthehopeofmeetingyou. Willyoudomethehonourofreadingthatletter?" Andthen,withaslightbow,turnedagainintotheplantation,andwassoonoutofsight. 

           Withnoexpectationofpleasure,butwiththestrongestcuriosity,Elizabethopenedtheletter,and,toherstillincreasingwonder,perceivedanenvelopecontainingtwosheetsofletter-paper,writtenquitethrough,inaveryclosehand.